These stores stock household appliances such as TVs, PCs and refrigerators as well as cameras or game software in bulk, and sell them at low prices. Some stores deal in watches, toys and brand products. Typical examples are "Yodobashi Camera", "Bic Camera" and "Yamada Denki". Akihabara in Tokyo and Nipponbashi in Osaka are famous electronics towns, but nowadays more shops are opening up near the terminal stations or along the highway. So competition between these megastores will surely heat up. Shop around at some of the nearby stores and buy a product from the one offering the lowest price and best service.

Miscellaneous goods include the many daily products that add fun and convenience to our life. Functionality is required, but additional value is expected in the form of design quality and sense of fun. There is a wide range of genres of miscellaneous goods from stationary, antiques, and tableware to party goods. Stores with nationwide outlets include "The Loft", "Tokyu Hands", "Mujirushi Ryohin (MUJI)" and "Plaza". "The Loft" in particular has a variety of colorful everyday items with high-quality design, and they have 53 stores throughout Japan, including ones in Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Osaka/Umeda and Shinsaibashi. "Mujirushi Ryohin (MUJI)", popular for its simple designs based on monotone colors, has started increasing the number of its overseas stores. "Plaza", the first imported miscellaneous goods stores was established in 1966 and presently has 76 stores throughout Japan, with Barbapapa products and stationary as their popular items.

Discount storesA wealth of title products at bargain prices

Discount stores sell everything from clothing to daily necessities, from household products to toys and food at discount prices. One famous store with outlets throughout Japan is "Don Quijote", and their shop at Dotonbori, Osaka, even has a Ferris wheel. The head store at Shinjuku East Exit and the store in Roppongi are open 24 hours a day and the one in Akihabara is open till 5:00 in the morning. In Tokyo, the famous "Takeya" discount store in Okachi-machi opened in 1947. Because there are many Asian foreigners living in the area, many of the salespeople are multilingual. There are 8 buildings, each of which features a particular category such as electrical appliances, watches/jewelry and cosmetics, so you will pleased with their selection.

100 yen shops

Everything from cosmetics to stationary, household items to food is sold at 100 yen in these shops. The "Daiso" company has 2500 outlets in Japan and 470 outside Japan, and the "Can*Do" chain is also one of the most popular 100-yen shops. The products are durable for practical use and many of them come in a variety of colors, so they're fun to use and have become an established part of daily life in Japan. You will be able to find souvenirs and travel-size items for immediate use. Some "Daiso" shops recently started selling products such as T-shirts at the low price of 300 yen. There is a big store on Takeshita Dori (Ave.) in Harajuku, Tokyo and one in Shinsaibashi and Shin-Osaka in Osaka. "Lawson Store 100" that sells mainly 100-yen food items recently appeared on the market. The 5% consumption tax is paid separately.

Drug stores

Drug stores are centered on drugs and medicines, but they also sell cosmetics, food, health products and many other items in reasonable price. Some of the stores focus on cosmetics targeting young women, so you can try out the latest products before they are available in other shops. Moreover, an increasing number of stores now have a pharmacy to fill hospital prescriptions. "Matsumoto Kiyoshi", "Kokumin" and "Sundrug" are the major drug store chains, but when you walk along any of Japan's shopping districts, chances are you will find several drug stores. The largest drug store in the industry, "Matsumoto Kiyoshi", sells original-brand cosmetics and drugs/medicines that cannot be purchased anywhere else.